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Summary

An alignment and also clusters of tin prospecting and extractive pits extend for 510m west to east across the crest of Challacombe Down. The pits vary in size between 2m and 5m diameter with varying amounts of spoil on the exterior. Most are filled or partly-filled with soil though some remain to a depth of 1.5m. Some of the pits near the summit have conjoined into elongated trenches. The majority of the pits especially the smaller examples were prospecting pits though some of the larger ones near the summit could have been undeveloped extractive pits. The pits are likely to be post-medieval in date c.1450-1700, some may well be more recent.

Location

Protected Status

• Scheduled Monument 1021340: Tinworks, field systems, settlements, warren, cairns and a stone alignment at Headland Warren
• Scheduled Monument 1021393: Medieval strip field system, tinworks, part of a prehistoric settlement, a cairn and reave on Challacombe Down

Other References/Statuses

• National Monuments Record: SX68SE346
• National Record of the Historic Environment: 1344768
• Old SAM Ref Revised: 34499

Monument Type(s) and Dates

• EXTRACTIVE PIT (Constructed, Post Medieval to Early 20th Century - 1540 AD (Between) to 1901 AD (Between))

Full description

Newman, P., 2002, Headland Warren and the Birch Tor and Vitifer Mines (Report - Survey). SDV363213.

(18/07/2001) An alignment of tin prospecting and extractive pits extending for 510m west to east across the crest of Challacombe Down between SX 6873 8056 and SX 6917 8081, and a cluster of pits centred SX 6865 8059. The pits vary in size between 2m and 5m diameter with varying amounts of spoil on the exterior. Most are filled or partly-filled with soil though some remain to a depth of 1.5m. Some of the pits near the summit have conjoined into elongated trenches. The majority of the pits especially the smaller examples were prospecting pits though some of the larger ones near the summit could have been undeveloped extractive pits. The pits are likely to be post-medieval in date c.1450-1700, some may well be more recent.

Sources / Further Reading

Associated Monuments

Associated Finds: none recorded

Associated Events

• EDV8423 - Duchy Farms Project
• EDV7139 - Headland Warren and the Birch Tor and Vitifer Mines Survey (Ref: A1/20/2001, A1/34/2002)
• EDV7390 - Archaeological condition survey in Soussons Woods
• EDV7402 - Archaeological condition survey in Soussons Woods
• EDV7421 - Archaeological condition survey in Soussons Woods
• EDV7431 - Woodland Survey (1989-90) at Bellever, Soussons and other woodland parcels
• EDV8658 - Challacombe, Duchy Farms Survey

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